J. B. Edens Hecrds southwest lumber Mills Genercrl ofiices Now in Phoenix, Arizoncr

In just a little more than one year's time, Jim Ben Edens has become one of the outstanding lurnber manufacturers of America. All his life he has been in the sawmill business in East Texas with his father, \Vilfred Edens, now retired fror:r active service. For many years they operated the EdensBirch Lurnber Cornpany, at Corrigan, Texas, the mill being one of modest size and equipment. Then they bought a modern sawmill plant at Cleveland, Texas, rebuilt and enlarged it, an<l they recently rebuilt and enlarged the Corrigair mill. Year after year tl-rey added to their timber holdings, trrracticing forest conservation ancl selective logging, until their two East Texas mills now prornise continuous operation.

In September, 1952, J. B. Eclens really stepped out. Announcement came that he and his associates had purchased control of Southwest Lumber Mills, Inc., which had its headquarters in McNary, Arizona, and operated big sawmill plants at McNary, Flagstaff, ar.rd Overgaard, in that state. The McNary plant is equipped with three band headrigs and a horizontal resaw; the Flagstaff plant with two heaclrigs ; and the Overgaard plant with a band and gang. Headquarters were at McNary.

Recently an electior.r was held ancl J. B. Edens was elected president of Soutl.rwest Lumber Mills, Inc., at a meeting of the directors. He succeeded J. E. Clifiord, who has held that office for several years, and who is now chairman of the executive committee of the company.

Freeman Schultz was elected vice president in charge of the Flagstaff Division, and Richard L. Kemp vice president in charge of the NfcNary Division. Mr. Schultz has been executive vice president and general manager of the Saginaw & Manistee l-umber Company, at Flagstaff, which concern rvas recently integrated with the Southwest operation at that point. Mr. Kernp joined Southwest on August first, 1953, coming to them from Susanville, California.

It had been announced in August last that the big mills of Southvvest Lumber l,[ills, Inc., and of the Saginaw & Manistee Lurnber Company at Flagstaff, had been integrated for the better operation of both. In the past these two mills have had a cooperative logging arrangement, with Saginaw & Manistee furnishing the logs for both plants. Both mills cut government forest tirnber from a mighty stand of ponderosa Pine.

The general office of Southwest Lumber Mills, Inc., has been moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and is located 840 North

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